持て余す

もてあます

Also written 持てあます, もて余す

Meanings

1. Godan verb, Transitive to be too much for one; to find unmanageable; to be beyond one's control; to not know what to do with

Kanji

• 持 hold. Read as もてる.
• 余 surplus. Read as あます.

Example sentences

• 私は時間を持て余している。
  I've got time on my hands.
• 彼女は暇を持て余しているらしい。
  She doesn't seem to know what to do with her leisure time.
• 僕は暇をもてあましている。
  I don't know what to do with my leisure.

Common phrases

• 暇を持て余す
• 時間を持て余す

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists